Briya staff Mau Castro and Melissa Lorenzana shared about their experience as part of the Equity in Early Learning Initiative (EELI) in a blog post by the Washington Area Women’s Foundation #AskHer series. In the blog, Mau shared, “In my opinion, for us, teachers, to have a positive effect on our students’ positive racial identity,… Continue Reading Briya staff featured in Washington Area Women’s Foundation blog
Briya staff Mau Castro and Beth Kushner published an article about how Briya expanded career pathways for Spanish speakers through creating our two-generation CDA class and partnering with UDC on the creation the bilingual (English/Spanish) associate degree program in early childhood education. You can read the full article here. They were also featured in this… Continue Reading Briya staff publish article in COABE journal about Briya’s Spanish two-generation CDA class
Briya student and board member Flor advocates for changes to the DC Alliance insurance renewal process in this Telemundo story. Flor’s experience shows the unacceptable difficulties of the current system. Briya staff member Raquel is also featured. This is part of Briya’s ongoing advocacy to change the DC Alliance insurance renewal process. You can watch… Continue Reading Briya student and board member Flor featured in Telemundo story about DC Alliance
“Remember that we are people too, that if you are hungry, we are hungry too.” In this Telemundo story, Alma, a Briya student, shares her family’s experience during the pandemic and asks the mayor’s office to provide more support to DC residents who don’t qualify for a stimulus check or unemployment. Watch the video… Continue Reading Briya student Alma and Briya staff Raquel featured in Telemundo story about excluded workers
“Briya’s holistic approach to education has come in handy during the pandemic… ‘Education is one arm in somebody’s success,’ said Reena Gadhia, the former manager of one of Briya’s work force training programs. ‘You really cannot disregard access to mental health services, access to social services, access to child care, transportation, all of it.’” … Continue Reading New York Times Opinion article features Briya’s two-generation model and student-driven approach
“We work, we all pay taxes. But to make it even harder for us to get health care, it makes us feel less than human…I felt shame when my daughter got older, and I had to keep taking her out of school to stand in that line.” Check out this Washington Post column by Petula… Continue Reading Briya student Alma advocates for one year renewal period for DC Alliance
In this Telemundo 44 story, Marlene shares her experiences with the problems and stresses of renewing DC Alliance insurance in person every 6 months. Watch here.
“While financial and family motivation has drawn many adult learners to school, the seismic shift adult ed programs have undergone in the past nine months — namely, incorporating more flexibility like repeat classes and asynchronous learning options — has made it possible despite competing priorities such as child care, students said. Briya Public Charter School,… Continue Reading Briya sees increase in Adult Ed programs during pandemic
“COVID-19 brought nearly all Briya families a new set of extreme challenges. On top of working or finding employment, many of Briya’s adult learners had to shift their children to distance learning as they continued their own education online as well. Even while attending to a flood of urgent personal needs, Briya’s staff looked for… Continue Reading Briya featured in NAPCS report
In April, Briya held a virtual tour for DC city leaders, funders, and educators. This was part of a series of events organized by FOCUS DC (a DC charter advocacy organization) to show how charter schools are innovatively adapting to distance learning. The tour featured Briya’s English and Medical Assistant programs, as well as our 2… Continue Reading FOCUS Virtual Tour
“There are many new and exciting education technology tools out there for language learners, but many are not appropriate for our population, particularly our low-literacy students…It is clear that Microsoft has put a lot of thought and effort into creating tools that can help people of all backgrounds, languages and abilities to be successful.” Briya’s… Continue Reading Microsoft education blog features Briya students
In December, Briya was very fortunate to have a visit from a news team from Telemundo, the national Spanish news network. Telemundo featured Briya’s unique two-generation, family literacy program in a segment that was broadcast across the country on New Years Day. Several students and staff members were interviewed in the video, and you get… Continue Reading Telemundo features Briya in a broadcast across the nation
“Briya’s comprehensive model garners tremendous results. Both the adult education and pre-K programs regularly receive the highest rankings from the D.C. Public Charter School Board based on measures of student outcomes and program quality.” New America recently published a piece highlighting the success of Briya alumna and early childhood teacher Pooja Adhikari. Pooja is an exemplary example… Continue Reading Briya alumna’s success story is featured by New America
“Si los padres saben manejarse con el inglés aumentan las expectativas que sus hijos estén preparados en lo emocional y académico para entrar a la escuela primaria.” El Tiempo Latino featured Briya in a story about the school’s history and our unique two-generation model, written in Spanish. The story talks about the needs that Briya… Continue Reading El Tiempo Latino highlights Briya’s two-generation model
After the October 5th FOCUS “First Fridays” visit to Briya, DC State Board of Education Policy Analyst Alexander Jue reflected on his experience on the SBOE’s blog. “As schools and communities continue to think about how educational services extend to all ages of learners, what types of educational models ensure meaningful parental and family engagement, and how to… Continue Reading Briya featured on the State Board of Education blog
The DC Public Charter School Board recently released a video highlighting Briya. The video, titled “A Day in the Life,” covers the mission and daily happenings at Briya and includes interviews with students and staff. Diana Delgado, a student in Briya’s Two-Generation Program, is featured in the video discussing her experience at Briya, explaining the… Continue Reading Video from DC Public Charter School Board highlights Briya’s education model
El Tiempo Latino interviewed Briya staff and students to hear about all the opportunities our Child Development Associate Program provides. Staff discussed the benefits of being a charter school and how they believe education can change society, and students shared their experiences at Briya and their goals for the future. Read the full story here.… Continue Reading El Tiempo Latino features Briya’s Child Development Associate Program
Briya was recently awarded a second Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant from Mayor Bowser for the coming year! This grant allows Briya, in partnership with Julia M. Toro Law Firm, to continue providing students with free legal information, consultations, and representation. Briya held a know your rights presentation this September and was featured on NBC… Continue Reading NBC features Briya’s legal assistance for immigrant students
Briya’s efforts to provide immigration legal services for students and their families, made possible through a grant awarded by DC mayor Muriel Bowser in March 2017, are highlighted in a story by NPR. Through the grant, Briya is able to offer students free individual legal consultations, on-site Know Your Rights fairs, and free legal representation.… Continue Reading NPR features Briya’s legal assistance for immigrant students
Briya’s Digital Literacy Program is featured in a Digital Promise case study as an example for others looking to incorporate technology into two-generation programs. “Briya has leveraged technology to help their immigrant learners overcome the digital gap they encounter moving to a highly digitally literate environment,” the study states. Read the full study here.
Briya is one of the eleven two-generation programs across the country that were analyzed by the Migration Policy Institute in a study titled “Serving Immigrant Families Through Two-Generation Programs: Identifying Family Needs and Responsive Program Approaches.” “By addressing the needs of poor or low-income parents and their children simultaneously, two-generation programs have great potential to uplift whole… Continue Reading Migration Policy Institute study on two-generation programs features Briya
The expansion to Fort Totten by Briya, Bridges PCS, and Mary’s Center is highlighted in a video created by the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) for their annual report. Fatoumata, a student in Briya’s Two-Generation Program, is featured in the video alongside her son, who attends Briya’s toddler class. “Briya is a very good opportunity… Continue Reading Briya’s Fort Totten expansion highlighted by Low Income Investment Fund
Briya is profiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on their Effective Literacy and Numeracy Practices Database. The database features adult education programs from around the globe with the goal of improving literacy policies and practices. “Briya is a unique example of how a public school, through strategic partnerships with other community organizations, can serve… Continue Reading Briya profiled on international UNESCO literacy database
Briya staff members from Bangladesh, Syria, and Cameroon were interviewed by NPR reporter Armando Trull for a story on the views of immigrant voters in advance of the presidential election. “‘When I watch the TV news, I am thinking who will be president, because we are Asian and I came from Bangladesh, so I am… Continue Reading Briya staff featured in NPR story on immigrant voters
Briya’s Two-Generation Program is showcased in a video created by Digital Promise in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation. The video highlights Briya’s unique model, which enables parents to gain knowledge and skills (from basic literacy to earning a high school diploma) at the same time that their young children prepare for future success through… Continue Reading Video from Digital Promise highlights Briya’s strengths
A recent report from the New America Foundation focuses on DC policies and programs, including Briya, that excel at supporting young dual language learners. The report, put out by New America’s Dual Language Learners National Work Group, points to a number of lessons policymakers in other areas of the country can learn from DC’s success.… Continue Reading Briya in New America (Again)!
Briya students and a staff member are featured in a local news piece that highlights Briya’s two-generation model. Watch the story here.
Briya’s holistic approach to education, including the unique two-generation model and partnership with Mary’s Center, is highlighted in a story by Armando Trull of WAMU 88.5, NPR’s DC affiliate, as a way to help immigrant families overcome poverty. “’One of the things that [Briya and Mary’s Center] do very well is bringing all these elements together… Continue Reading NPR highlights Briya’s comprehensive approach to helping immigrants
Briya’s strategies for engaging the parents of dual-language learners in their children’s education are featured as outstanding in an article by the New America Foundation. “To really prepare our young DLLs for future success, other early education centers should learn from places like Briya … that have intentionally prioritized family engagement and incorporated it as an… Continue Reading New America features Briya’s strategies for engaging parents of DLLs
Briya’s partnership with Mary’s Center is featured in a study by the Brookings Institution as an outstanding example of the way schools and clinics can collaborate to strengthen communities. “The combination of a school and clinic that function together as a ‘hub’ to provide health care, social services and education shows promise as a way… Continue Reading Brookings Institution study highlights success of Briya and Mary’s Center
Briya’s innovative Two-Generation Program, is featured in the Education section of the Washington Post. “The District’s Briya Public Charter School enrolls parents and young children together in the same school, a novel effort to improve children’s prospects by building the skills of those who are closest to them,” the article states. “The school has posted promising… Continue Reading Briya’s innovative Two-Generation Program featured in Washington Post
